How Much Does a Shopify Store Cost? (No Fluff, Just Facts)

Let’s get straight to it. You want to know the Shopify store development cost.

You might be:

• Thinking about starting an online store.
• Wondering if Shopify is worth it.
• Trying to figure out your budget.

No one likes unexpected costs, so let’s break it down in simple terms.

What Affects the Cost of a Shopify Store?

The cost of building a Shopify store depends on several factors:

1. Shopify Plans

You need a Shopify subscription. Here are the options:

• Basic Shopify – $39/month (Best for small stores)
• Shopify – $105/month (For growing businesses)
• Advanced Shopify – $399/month (For large businesses)

For enterprise-level stores, Shopify Plus starts at $2,000/month.

2. Design & Themes

Two choices here:

• Free Themes – Simple and clean but with limited features.
• Paid Themes – Cost $180 to $350+ for more design options.

For a custom design, hiring a Shopify expert can cost $1,500 to $10,000+.

3. Development & Customisation

Want extra features or a unique look? You’ll need a developer.

• Basic Setup – $500 to $2,500 (Adding products, setting up pages)
• Custom Development – $2,500 to $10,000+ (More features, better design)
• Enterprise-Level Stores – $10,000 to $50,000+ (Fully custom solutions)

A Shopify expert like Web Panel Solutions can help you get the best value.

4. Apps & Plugins

Shopify has many apps, but they aren’t always free.

• Some apps cost $5 to $100+/month.
• Custom apps? Expect to pay $1,000 to $20,000+.

5. Payment Processing Fees

If you use Shopify Payments, there are no extra fees. If you use PayPal or Stripe, the fee is about 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction.

6. Marketing & SEO

A website without traffic is useless. To grow, you’ll need:

• SEO ($500 – $5,000/month)
• Paid Ads ($300 – $5,000+ per month)
• Email Marketing ($50 – $500/month)
• Social Media Marketing ($200 – $2,000/month)

Should You DIY or Hire a Developer?

DIY Shopify Store

• Cost: $39 – $500 (for themes + basic setup)
• Good for: Small businesses & beginners
• Downsides: Limited customization, time-consuming

Hiring a Shopify Developer

• Cost: $2,000 – $50,000+
• Good for: Growing businesses, custom features
• Downsides: Higher upfront cost

If you need help, Web Panel Solutions offers expert Shopify development services.

Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Magento: Which is Best?

Still unsure? Let’s compare Shopify to WooCommerce and Magento.

Shopify

• Best for: Beginners, easy setup
• Costs: $39 – $399/month + development costs
• Pros: Simple, fast setup, no hosting needed
• Cons: Monthly fees, less flexibility

WooCommerce (Check out our WooCommerce website development services)

• Best for: WordPress users who want control
• Costs: Free plugin, but hosting & development can cost ($500 – $10,000+)
• Pros: No monthly fees, fully customizable
• Cons: Needs setup, requires hosting

Magento (Check out our Magento development services)

• Best for: Large businesses needing a custom solution
• Costs: $2,000 – $100,000+ (Development + hosting)
• Pros: Powerful, customizable
• Cons: Expensive, complex setup

How Much Should You Budget?

Here’s a rough estimate of Shopify store development cost:

• Basic Store – $500 to $3,000
• Mid-Level Store – $3,000 to $10,000
• Advanced Custom Store – $10,000 to $50,000+

If you’re serious about eCommerce, don’t just go for the cheapest option. Focus on value.

Web Panel Solutions can build you a high-performing Shopify store that helps you grow.